Published: October 26, 2009 03:31 pm      

City needs leader, not a follower

Spinelli exudes passion to lead council

Now perhaps more than ever Johnstown City Hall needs strong leaders with new and bright ideas, passion and drive.

We strongly believe that mayoral candidate Sharyn Spinelli meets that criterion. She wants your vote and we urge you to oblige.

“I’m totally committed to this town. I love it. That’s why I moved downtown,” she told our editorial board in an interview earlier this month.

We’re convinced she is sincere.

Spinelli is opposing incumbent Tom Trigona, who is seeking re-election.

Trigona is a retired Greater Johnstown School District teacher, has taught at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, and from what we’ve seen and heard is a genuinely nice guy.

Problem is, Trigona has left his easy-going personality interfere with what we see as his duties as mayor. He has come under widespread criticism, including from us, for not being a leader. Among his duties is overseeing council meetings, something he has done poorly.

Council meetings too often have been described by onlookers, even those on council, as embarrassing and as a “circus.”

Unfortunately, that is a good assessment of the way things have been.

That has to end, and it starts with strong leadership at the top.

Trigona himself, in an interview with our editorial board, admitted that “some of our meetings have gotten long. Some council members want to talk and I can’t yell at them and tell them to shut up.”

Perhaps not, but sessions shouldn’t be allowed to get out of control.

He also believes council does some of its best work behind closed doors or in small workshop gatherings.

“We seem to work better and get things done,” he said.

We’re suspicious of government leaders who conduct business in closed-door backrooms. Most of what council members do should be in the open, in front of the public that has elected them.

To Trigona’s credit, he did call a press conference in September to announce an ordinance and other initiatives aimed at blight and “disruptive housing” that have long plagued Johnstown.

However, he should have taken those initiatives long ago, and not wait until just weeks before the Nov. 3 election.

On the other hand, Spinelli has been very visible for decades. For 35 years, she was a businesswoman.

She is a past president of the Keystone Chapter of the American Red Cross, past president and current treasurer of Discover Downtown Partnership, a former board member of the Johnstown Chiefs, president of Johnstown Business District Development Corp., chairwoman for the annual Christmas parade, serves on the community board for First National Bank and on the board of the Greater Johnstown Cambria County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

That’s impressive and demonstrates her commitment for getting things done in Johnstown.

“The steel mills aren’t coming back. We need to go after developers,” Spinelli said.

“The rivers are an asset. Develop that asset. The quality of life here is great.”

She is critical, with good reason, of City Hall’s recent history of deficit spending.

This year’s shortfall stands at nearly $500,000 and budget woes have been an annual occurrence. This has got to end, and so does Johnstown’s long run – since 1992 – as a distressed city.

“It’s Business 101,” Spinelli said. “You can’t spend more than you’re making.”

We totally agree and have said as much to the current council and city administration time and time again.

When we asked Spinelli why she didn’t run for one of four openings on council instead, she replied: “I’m a leader. I want to pull (council) all together.”

Good answer.

Spinelli says she isn’t opposed to cutting positions or raising taxes to get the city back to financial stability.

“If you have to raise taxes, you raise them,” she said. “I’m not in a popularity contest. I’m in this for the city.”

She realizes that running as a Republican in a Democratic stronghold makes her candidacy an uphill battle.

“I can’t do this alone. I need Democrats and Republicans to vote for me,” she notes.

Spinelli admits to having strong emotions. That’s something she’ll have to rein in and turn into a positive force if she hopes to mold council into a more harmonious body.

With 38 years as a teacher of Johnstown’s children and his public service to the city itself, we don’t doubt Trigona’s love for Johnstown. But he doesn’t wear his passion on his sleave. He’s a follower and not a leader.

And right now, council badly needs a leader.

We congratulate him for his five years of dedicated service as a councilman and then as mayor, succeeding Don Zucco.

In his time as mayor, Zucco set higher standards than one might expect – us not being among them – for a position that pays $3,500. He led by example and had control of meetings.

It wasn’t unusual for Zucco to lead a delegation to Harrisburg or Washington, D.C., to meet with government officials to push the city’s financial agenda.

We need, especially now, more of that kind of leadership. Someone who can be a cheerleader. We believe of the two candidates, that’s Spinelli.

“I’m 62. I thought it was time to step back, get off some of my boards – and then this,” she said.

“I can’t sit back and watch this happen to a city I love.”

With the help of Johns-town’s voters, she won’t have to.